Grinding-machine.



GRIEDING MM HIKE. APPLIGA'I'ION EILED Jim. 14, 1909.

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GRINDING MACHINE.

UATION FILED JAN. 14, 1909.

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APPLE Smu HUN H. B. NICHOLS. GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

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H. B. menus. GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED J'AH.14,1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

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GRINDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1909 Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

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B. NICHOLS.

I GRINDING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 19G9v 9 SHEETS-SHEET 8,

H. B. NICHOLS.

GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED (1111.14, 1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

9 SHEETSSHEET 9.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. '1"

HENRY B. NICHOLS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRINDING-MACHINE.

vented. certain new and useful Improve ments' in Gririding-Machines, 0f which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the. accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to metal working machines, and especially to grinding machines.

.ltv hasjflfor its object the production of a inachmeiof this class- -apable of very accurate surfacing work, and especially such a machine for grinding railway rails.

The standard type of railway rails now in common use has head and foot flanges with a connecting web, constituting in etlecta girder. These rails are rolled, and the form and dimensions of their several parts are subject to soinezvariation. The commonest form, of traction rail for urban lines has eitheragrooved head;or a lateraltram flange; extending outdaterally to form a. channel withinclined faces. In either case the actrialrolling surface for the wheels is upon t-hetop of the rail head, so it becomes a matter of considerable importance to have these heads truly alined upon their upper surfaces.. This can only be accomplished however .by. absolute uuilm'mity at the rail ends and accuracy of tilting in the joints.

Disregarding'weldcd joints, which are no longer in accordance with the best practice, and also disregarding various impracticable schemes which havev been proposed from time to time for joining rail ends by m nns of lugs or the like formed on the rails themselves, all {commercial types of rail joint employ some form of tish-platesor its equivalent. The fish-plate is adjusted upon the rail. with inclined tlanges along its upper and lower edges resting against corresponding inclined surfaces on the lower sideof the rail head and the upper side of the foot flange. -=Th.e alinement of two conjoined rail ends is-therefore based upon and determined by the-accuracy of surfacing of these faces. The. anglesof the surfaces also constitute a factor, because in drawing up the fish-plates, a slight variation in angle would raise or lower the rail a perceptible amount, to the detriment of the joint. The thickness of the rail foot is a secondary matter, but it will be observed from what has already been Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Application filed January 14, 1909. Serial No. 472,286.

said that the thickness, that is to say the depth, of the rail head, must be absolute and invariable in order to secure results. Moreover, the distance between'tlie opposed adj acent. surfaces'of the head and foot must be constant,-as well as their relative angles, for reasons already stated. .It will be noted that in any machine intended for surfacing these headand foot flanges, several'important requirements must be met. In the first plac longitudinal feed must be provided between the work and the .tool, to

gether with som'e'ineans of gaging'fdis'tanee from the rolling surface on the head of the rail, during the feed. In the second-place,

Dec. 28, 1909'.-

since continuous operation i s'necessa-ry for the attainment of etlic1ency, meansmust be provided to continuously compensate for wear on the tool. In the third pla'ceysince lateral compensating feed as well'las l'on'gi- 1 tudinal feed is involved, the adjustment must be adapted to the'moving parts ori'tools if the main feed is linear.

I meet the foregoing requirements in the present case by the following construction: (1) A bed or work support with a. superposed frame carrying a pair. of oppositely disposed grinding or cutting toolsherein shown and described as grinding wheels, turned by the same spindle, and means to produce relative feed between tl1e"work.and the tools so as to alter the line 0f cut;' (2) means are provided for calipering the tools instead of the work during operation, and for adjustment in accordance with thecon dition thereof; (3) permanence of adjustmentand strength of working parts'are' se- -eured by rightline construction, using'for this purpose angular grindingwheels 101' tools with inclinedcutting faces or edges;

The rail to be ground is supported over-a form on a bed-platewhich may be similarand have a similar feed tothat-lofftherordi nary planer. Supported above this. bed is. bridge, and on the bridge is. carried a item spindle with a pair of splined on it, driving and feeding meehaln' stant.

inserts of a graphite composition in 'their' backs or clamping plates, and as the mes wear away, these graphite rings retreat, as the wheels are moved forward by spring pressure, thereby enabling the calipers to close certain electrical contacts which act-uate the feed devices. In order to prevent the .constant closing of these circuits when there is no work in themachine I provide a pair of supplemental contact levers which open when the wheels make an extreme forward movement.

Grinding wheels of one kind herein em unground; in the present case I am enabled movement of the wheel as determined from to use a cone-faced wheel, for grinding inclined surfaces, and still maintain my right line construction although calipering on a ring which responds to and indicates wear. I have described and claimed automatic calipers in prior applications other thantgat hereinbefore referred to, for example rial No. 399,699, filed October 29, 1907. In that case I calipered the work, in the more recent application I calipered the face ofthe wheel, and I believe the present case is the first to show the idea of regulating feed by some other portion of its surface than the cutting face. I shall therefore claim the thereto, which will suflicientl y appear from the detailed description hereinafter.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the tool support and partsmountcd thereon embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view lookin in the direction oh the arrow 2 in Fig.1. fig. 3 is an. opposite end view lookingin the direction the arrow 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view .on a somewhat reduced scale. Fig. 5 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of one grinding wheel'and the parts which regulateilits feed. Fig. 6 is a back elevation of one of the grinding wheels. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 1s a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig.

' 5. Fig. 9 is a side view of the entire machine assembled. Fig. 10 is an end view thereof looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a plan view on a reduced scale showing a modified arrangement of the calipering mechanism.

carrying a form-2, upon which the work is supported. Above the bed plate a bridge is Referring to the drawings, 1 is a bed. plate.

provided, to which is bolted the upper member 3 of a bracket frame or tool support 4. This bracket frame is stiffened by a central diagonal web or flange 5, and carries upon- 1t vertical bearin posts 6, 7, 7 7, 8, 9, 1O, 11, 12, 13, 14, journa boxes 15 and 16 and contact osts 17, 18, 19, 20. The two grinding whee S21 and 22, are splined in a manner that will-presently be described, upon the driving shaft 23 ournaled in the boxes 15 and 16, and carryin 'upon one end the driving ulley 24, aswe has the bevel pinion 25 gear 26 journaled at 27. (see Figs.3 and 4) and carrying at its other end a worm 28 which engages a worm gear 29 on the vertical stub shaft 30 journaled in a box on the end of a horizontal arm 31 extending from the bear- .whic intermeshes with and drives the bevel ing post 12, and carrying at its upper end acam disk 32 which as it turns throws the frame 33 back and forth so as to oscillate the shaft 34, which carries de nding fingers 35 and 36, secured to the s aft by sleeves 37, 38 and set-screws 39 and 40. The ends of the fin rs 35'and 36 lie between flanges on the co lars 41 and-42, mounted to slide on the fixed parallel shaft 43, p'assin through the posts 7 11 and 77. On each 0 the osts'll and 7 7 a bracket arm is provided as indicated at 44 and 45,'the extremities .of these bracket arms being bifurcated to receive the caliper levers 46 and 47, which are pivoted at 48 and 49, and carry atone extremity 50 or 51 a contact to cooperate with the fixed ,contacts 17, 18, and have at the other extremity a knuckle jointconnection 52 or 53 with the slidin sleeves 54, on the shaft 43. Each of t esesleeves 54 and 55 has a pair of helical springs, one on each side of it, indicated at 5(S-57 and 58-: 59: The springs 57 and 59 rest against the solid abutments 11 and 77, while the springs 56 and 58 lie between the sleeves 54 and 55 and the collars 41 and 42. Any movement of the sleeves 54 and .55 swings the levers 46 and 47, and it will be quite obvious from the foregoing description that a'normal adjustment may be obtained in which the 33 by means of'the cam disk 32, rotated from the driving shaft 23.

Each of the sleeves 54 and 55 has a knuckle joint or (51, by which it is connected to the holder 62 or 63 of the caliper head ,or' I feeler,-which' carries an adjustable angle arm 64 or 65, havingupon its extremitya steel roller 66, -67 which approaches to and recedes from the back of its respective grind 3 ing wheel 21 or as its sleeve 54 or 55 oscillates. Assuming the grinding wheels to be normal, that is to say not yet worn away, and properly set on the shaft. then the oscillations of the shaft 2-H will produce no effect on the caliper contacts 1750 or 18-51, because the oscillation of the sleeves 5t and 55 due to the changes in compression oi the work, (without as yet producing a working next pressure thereon) then .the caliper at the osclllation moves beyond normal a distance corresponding to the initial movement of the. wheel, the lever 4-0 or 47'is swung-far enough to close upon its contact 17 or 18 and a circuit is thereby completed which'includcs one of the solenoids 68 or (it), which, deriving current from the supply circuit 70, immediately pulls in its core' 71 or 72, turning the ratchet plate 7 3 or 7 1, also the ratchet- 75 or 70 and the feed shaft 77 or 78. are mounted on posts Band 8, closely adjacent to the bearing posts 9 and 10, and pach core is normally retracted by a spring 78 or 79. The feed shafts are jmirnaled respectivelyin the posts 913 and 1013, and are right andlcft handed, so as to feed their respective wheels away from each oth d against the inner faces 01'. the work.

In Fig. 11 I show a modification of the calipering mechanism whereby the feelers are made to follow up the wea rand adjustment of their respective wheels. It comprises :1 spur wheel 112 that meshes with a spur on the shaft 77 and transmits its motion through miters 113, 114 to shaft 115, thence through niitcrs' 116, 117 to shaft 118,

'which carries a spur 110. meshing with a spur on the feed shaft 111, thus feeding the bracket 04 and fcelertiti towardthc grinding wheel :21.

The connection of the, grinding wheel with the shaft shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, as well as the details of the feed connections with the shafts 77 and 78. As these are duplicates, arranged right hand respectively, a description ofone will sntlice for botln The wheel 21 has an opening 80 through'its center, and is recessed on both faces as indicated at 81 and Fitted 1n the opening 80 is a flanged bushing 83 threaded at 8 t for the reception of a flanged nut 85, the flanges of the bushing and the nut lying in the. recesses 81 and 82 respectively. The bushing has an extension 86 with an annular groove 87, and to this ex'; tension are fitted a pair of gibs 88 and 89,

The solenoids and lefti i t by short yoke havcxipenlngs to'receive the trunnions and 1t 15' apparent:

, feed nut 100. The

boltedtogether at 90 and 91, and provided with lateral trunnions 92 and 93. Each gib has an extension bushing 94 screw threaded at its end 95 fitted with a split'nut 96, forming an abutment for which lies between this abutment and the seat 08 on the arm 99 of the feed nut 100. This feed nut has an extended body threaded directly npon'the shaft/77, and forming a slide hearing for the: yoke holder or supplc- '75 mental nut l01. This holder carries yoltes' 102 and 103 fol-the gibs 8S and 89,-thc yoltcs" lwing'secured follows: i

Upon the body .of tlle holder 100 a lateral plate projection 102 is formcch'upon the op- 80 posite faces of which the gibs are bolted at 103. being held against turning on the bolt studs-104. The outer ends of the- 92 and 93 on the gibs, that by removing the single bolt- 103 both yokes may be removed to permit access to or removal of the gibs. The arm or plate 102*" determines the position of the parts .21, 83,.

88, 8!), 101 and-102 103 with respect to the arm 99 of the foed'nnt, its motion being limited by the regulating screw 104, tapped into the arm 99. On the other side of the arm 102 and the holder 1J1- is an adjusting not 105, threaded onto tl purpose of this double or compensating ad ustment for the wheel is ty'vo-fold, first. to determine an absolute limit of variation in the cut, and second to open the electric circuit controlling the feed when 1 the machine is idle. The first object is accomplished when the part, 102 abuts upon the screw 104, which may of course be set for any percentage of variation desired.

The "second object is accomplished by the 105 action of the pivoted arm 10(3, carried upon the arm 95), and controllcd by the extension 107 on one of the gibs, which opens the cireuit atthe contact 19 when the wheel is all the way over, that is to say when the part p 102 reaches the screw 104. This condition will occur when there 1s no work in the ma- $111116, or when it gets out of adpistincnt."

Fig. (3 shows the baclrof the wheeL-with its ring ofgraphite compos'tionf108,Z'upon 'l which the roller 60' of 'the 'aili'pe'r b' irs'.

, in my priorapplication hereinbefore ie'ferred to, but held in an undercut This ring may bc Similar-to. tlu e (lose! recess or groove. employed for this, ring Wh'en'setfmtothe wheel body,

stirred or groundintfo two parts by w'cightl'of form temperature of about 212 Fahrenheit,

a compression spring 97, 70 v e end of the body of the. 95

is formed of powdered or flake graphitelield in a binder of sulfur. "The sulfur is first melted, and the graphite 'is it ii'i'thproportion'of 25 graphite to' oneof sulfur. The Wheel body having been pro the graphite paste is poured or pressed into the groove, and the body allowed to cool. I prefer, however, to set the ring into the metal clamping plate on the back of the wheel,'for several reasons. For one thing, this enables the use of standard or stock wheels; for another, it enables pure graphite to be employed, inserted in the groove under pressure which the wheel body could not resist. I

The ring can be made in severalother wa s, as by forming'a paste of water, a gum sol lution, or the like. In any case and whether set in the wheel body or the clamping plate, I find that the undercut groove is of value in holding the ring in place, and as it con-' stitutes an improvement over the former arrangement I shall claim it herein.

It is-thought the operation of my machine will now be clear. The main frame shown in Figs. 9 and 10 needs no description as the adjustment of the tool support 3-4 is sulficiently apparent, this being accomplished through the vertical and horizontal screws 109 and 110. A rail being in position as shown in these two figures, the wheels 21 and 22 rest against the faces to bc'ground with a degree ofpressure determined by the adjustment of the nut 105. As the wheel wears, the spring 97 will act upon the nut 96 to draw the gib bushing 94, the gibs, the wheel,

and the holder 101, toward the right in Fig. 7. This advancement of the wheel causesthe caliper to close its contact (assuming that the ermissible limit of variation has been reac led before compensation is desired), the

solenoid 68 takes current, the shaft 77 is turned, the nut 100 is fed to the right, and

1 compensation for the wear is thus effected.

By the use of cone wheels, the angle of touch is rendered constant, and the wear on the wheels is quite uniform, .due at least partly to the fact that the work is all done on a radial line in the surface of the wheel. A number-of advantages will suggest themselves, due to what I have called the right line construction, not the least of which is the possibility of direct gear transmission of power between the operating and feed mechanism, whereby positive action issecured.

I am aware that many non essential changes and modifications may be made in the machine thus described without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it to be understood that I contemplate all 'these which fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States, is: I

1. In a metalworking machine, a work support, a tool and tool support, means for producing relative feed between the work and the tool, inearis for advancing the tool during the out as it wears, and a feed control continuously responsive to said advance-. ment.

2. In a metal working machine, a work support, a tool and tool support, means operative during the cut for automatically producing initial movement of the tool as it wears, means for producing a secondary movement or feed of the tool, and means responsive to the initial movement, governing the secondary movement.

3. In a metal working machine, a work support, a tool-and tool su port, means for driving the tool, means for eeding the same, and an automatio' caliper governing said feed, said caliper determining wear on the 30 tool by contact with-a. portion of its surface other than the cutting face or edge. 7

4. A grinding machine, having a work' support with longitudinal feed, a tool support anda grinding head thereon provided 35 with lategal feed, and an automatlc caliper governing the lateral feed andres onsive to wear on the wheel as determined y contact with the back thereof.

5. A grinding machine having a work 90.'

support with longitudinal feed, a tool sup port and a grinding head-thereon with lateral feed, an automatic caliper cooperating with said head to insure a uniformcut, and

feed devices when there is no work in themachine.

6. In a inding machine, a work support.

and a too support having relative'feed, a

longitudinally upon said spindle, means for means acting automatically to disable the 98;

driving spindle on the tool support, a grind- 10o ing wheel fitted to rotate with but tomove positively engaging the face of said wheel] with the work on a desired and 'redeter-- mined line of out, and means contro led from the back of the wheel for shifting the same along thespindle to maintain said lineof cut constant.

7. In a grinding machine, a work support 1 and a tool support having relative feed, a

driven spindle on the tool support transverse to the line of said feed, a grinding wheel on said spindle, means to move said wheel on the spindle in response to wear, and means for disabling said first named means upon 1 excessive movement of the Wheel. 8. In a grinding machine, a work support and a tool support having relative feed, a

driven spindle on the tool support transverse to the line of said feed, a -grinding 2 wheel on said spindle, a spring 'connection between the wheel anda fixed stop, whereb.y the wheel will have initial movement as it wears, mechanism for feeding the wheel to compensate for wear, an automatic caliper.

controlling said mechanism, and automatic means for disabling the feed mechanism when the initial movement of the wheel becomes excessive, as hen there is no work in the machine.

2). in a grinding machine, a work support, and a tool support having relative feed, a driven spindle on the tool support transverse to the line of said feed, a grinding wheel on said spindle, means to move said Wheel on the spindle in response to wear, a regulating device for said means, and feed mechanism for the regulating device, all acting proportionately to the amount of wear on the Wheel.

10. In a metal Working machine, a work support, a tool and tool support, means for driving the tool, means for feeding the same, an automatic caliper governing said feed, said caliper determining the wear on the tool by contact on its surface other than the cutting face or edge, and means for feeding the caliper to keep it in constant regulating position with respect to the tool.

11. In a metal Working machine, a Work support, a tool and tool support, means for driving the tool, means for feeding the tool, an automatic caliper governing said feeding, means for feeding the caliper, and means controlled by the main feed for governing the caliper feed.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l-IEfRY B. NICHOLS. \Vitnesses:

Tnonas DUIHNT, Enwaun E. CLEMENT. 

